Finger-guard for brake-beams.



No. 699,862. Patented May l3, I902.

C. H. WILLIAMS, JR.

FINGER GUARD FOR BRAKE BEAMS.

(Application filed Feb. 12, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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CHARLES H. \VILLIAMS, JR, OF CIIICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF ILLINOIS.

FINGER-GUARD FOR BRAKE-BEAMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,862, dated May 13, 1902.

Application filed February 12, 1902. Serial No. 93,798. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. WILLIAMS, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Finger-Guards for Brake- Beams, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful IO improvements in finger-guards for brakebeams, the object being to so attach the finger to the beam at two places that there is no liability of its assuming from accidental causes other than its proper or designed position.

Another object is to so construct the fingerguard that it will provide an eye or means of attachment for a safety-chain.

\Vith these objects in View the invention consists in the construction, arrangement,

and combination of the several parts, all as will hereinafter be described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through a member of the brakebeam, showing my improved guard-finger in position. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the brakebeam member, showing the same slotted to enable the guard-finger to be rotated to its final position; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, showing the guard-finger before it is rotated to its final position.

In the drawings I have shown a brake-beam I-shaped in cross-section; but it is obvious that there are other sections to which my im- 5 proved guard-finger can be attached. This brake-beam member, which is indicated at 1, is formed with an elongated slot 2 in its web, into which the inner end of the guard-finger is designed to be rotated in the act of secur- 0 ing the guard-finger in position.

3 indicates a guard-finger,which is provided with a shoulder 4 and a reduced inner end portion 5. This reduced portion is designed to be passed through an opening in the flange 5 of the brake-beam until the shoulder 4 abuts against the outer face of said flange, after which the guard-finger is rotated until its bent end (indicated at 6) is received into the opening 2. When the inner end of the guardfinger is in position in the opening 2, a washer 7 is preferably slipped .thereover and the end riveted over said washer, as shown, or if the inner end of the guard-finger is threaded, a nut may be screwed thereon. This inner end, as shown in Fig. 1, is formed witha shoulder 8, which is designed to engage with the web of the beam, and thus insure the rigid attachment of the guard-finger in position when the nut is screwed home or when the inner end of the guard-finger is riveted. The hook portion of the guard finger, hereinbefore described as the inner end portion, is prefer-- ably tapered, as shown, to admit of its easy passage through the hole in the flange of the brake-beam. In introducing the guard-finger the said inner end is passed through the hole in the flange, as shown in Fig. 3, after which it is rotated in the direction of the arrow until the shoulder 8 finds a bearing on the web of the beam and the downwardly-extending end of the guard-finger is in proper position to be riveted or to receive the nut, as the case may be.

It will be seen from the above that the guard-finger is connected at two places to the brake-beam and that between said points of of the several parts of my device can be made and substituted for those herein contained and described without in the least departing from the nature and spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination with a brake-beam, of a guard-finger passing through an opening in the flange of the beam, andmeans for securgo ing the inner end of the guard-finger to the web of the beam; substantially as described.

2. The combination with a brake-beam, of a guard-finger connected thereto at two points, said guard-finger between said points being 5 formed with a hook portion for the attachment of a safety-chain 5 substantially as described.

3. The combination with a brake-beam,'and a guard-finger whose inner end is formed as too a hook for the attachment of a safety-chain; substantially as described.

4:. The combination with a brake-beam, of a guard-finger having a reduced inner end, said guard-finger having a shouldered engagement with the flange of the beam, and the said reduced portion being provided with a shoulder 8, and means for securing the guardfinger in position by clamping the web of the beam against said shoulder 8; substantially as described.

5. The combination with a brake-beam, of a guard-finger having a bent inner end forming a hook for the attachment of a safetychain and a shouldered engagement with the brake-beam at a point beyond said bent portion; substantially as described.

6. The combination with a brake-beam having an elongated opening, of a guard-finger rotatably mounted in the flange of the beam and capable of rotation whereby one end thereof will pass through said elongated opening, and means for securing said guard-finger in its final position; substantially as described.

7. The combination with a brake-beam having an opening in its flange, of a guard-finger rotatably mounted therein, the inner end of said guard-finger being bent, said bent end being received in an opening in the web of the beam upon the rotation of said guard-finger, and means for securing said bent end in said opening; substantially as described.

8. The herein-described guard-finger whose inner end is reduced in diameter and bent to form a hook for the attachment of a safetychain; substantially as described.

9. The herein-described guard-finger Whose inner end is reduced in diameter, tapered and bent to form a hook; substantially as described.

10. The herein described guard finger whose inner end is reduced in diameter, tapered and bent to form a hook, the extreme end of said hook portion being shouldered and provided with attaching means; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two witnesses, this 31st day of January, 1902.

CHARLES H. WILLIAMS, JR. Witnesses:

E. T. WALKER, E. B. LEIGH. 

